# US 10,870,303 B2 · Decoloring apparatus for determining whether to decolor a sheet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,870,303 B2 - Document ID: US10870303B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/514,943 - Filed: 2019-07-17 - Published: 2019-11-07 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-24 - Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba; Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba; Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Kazumasa Takada - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870303B2 ## CPC - B41M 7/0009: {Obliterating the printed matter; Non-destructive removal of the ink pattern, e.g. for repetitive use of the support} - G03G 15/5062: {by measuring the characteristics of an image on the copy material} - G03G 21/00: Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge - B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P) - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A decoloring apparatus includes a reading unit that reads an image formed on a sheet and outputs image information corresponding to the read image. A control unit is configured to recognize the image information output by the reading unit and determine whether decoloring using the decoloring unit is performed on the sheet based on the recognized image information. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A decoloring apparatus comprising: a decoloring unit configured to perform a decoloring processing for decoloring an image formed on a sheet; a reading unit; and a controller configured to: after the decoloring unit performs the decoloring processing on the sheet, control the reading unit to read a surface of the decolored sheet and output image information corresponding to the read surface of the decolored sheet, determine a decoloring ratio of an area of the decolored image on the surface of the decolored sheet to an entire area of the surface of the decolored sheet based on the output image information, and determine whether the decolored sheet is reusable based on the determined decoloring ratio. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine that the sheet is reusable when the decoloring ratio is less than a predetermined value. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a number of uses of the sheet based on the output image information, and determine whether the sheet is reusable based further on the determined number of uses. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a reuse cassette; and a disposal cassette, wherein the controller is further configured to control transport of the sheet so that: when the sheet is determined to be reusable, the sheet is transported to the reuse cassette, and when the sheet is determined to not be reusable, the sheet is transported to the disposal cassette. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control the reading unit to scan the sheet and output pre-decoloring image information before the decoloring processing, and determine whether the decoloring unit performs the decoloring processing on the sheet based on the pre-decoloring image information. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether the pre-decoloring image information includes predetermined data, and the controller determines the decoloring unit does not perform the decoloring processing when the received pre-decoloring image information includes the predetermined data. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a retrieving cassette, wherein the controller controls transport of the sheet so that, when the controller determines the decoloring unit does not perform the decoloring processing, the sheet is transported to the retrieving cassette. ### Claim 8 A decoloring method comprising: performing a decoloring processing for decoloring an image formed on a sheet; after performing the decoloring processing, reading a surface of the decolored sheet and generating image information corresponding to the read surface of the decolored sheet; determining a decoloring ratio of an area of the decolored image on the surface of decolored sheet to an entire area of the surface of the decolored sheet based on the generated image information; and determining whether the decolored sheet is reusable based on the determined decoloring ratio. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the sheet is reusable when the decoloring ratio is less than a predetermined value. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising: determining a number of uses of the sheet based on the generated image information, wherein whether the sheet is reusable is determined based further on the determined number of uses. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising: controlling transport of the sheet so that when the sheet is determined to be reusable, the sheet is transported to a reuse cassette, and when the sheet is determined to not be reusable, the sheet is transported to a disposal cassette. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising: before performing the decoloring processing, reading the surface of the sheet and generating pre-decoloring image information corresponding to the read surface; and determining whether to perform the decoloring processing on the sheet based on the generated pre-decoloring image information. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, further comprising: determining whether the received pre-decoloring image information includes predetermined data, wherein the decoloring processing is not performed when the received pre-decoloring image information includes the predetermined data. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, further comprising: controlling transport of the sheet so that, when the decoloring processing is not performed, the sheet is transported to the retrieving cassette.